Brett Lee refuses to concede his career is over despite being forced to rest for up to 12 weeks because of a persistent elbow injury.
The problem has wrecked Lee's year, forcing him to miss both the tour of South Africa and the Ashes and also meant he had to return home early from last month's one-day series in India.
The problem flared up again in a domestic match at the weekend and this latest lay-off means he is now likely to miss matches against West Indies and Pakistan in December and January.
At 33, Lee knows he faces an uncertain future in cricket but says he will "exhaust every avenue" to correct his elbow problem so he can return to action.
"I've had setbacks before and don't see why I can't come back from this," he said. "I am 33 but with the cricket I've missed, I don't see my body being 33 as well. I still think there is a lot of cricket left in me.
"I've had people write me off the last 10, 12 years and I've always found a way to come back."
Should Lee lose his battle for fitness he says he will look back with pride on a career which has brought him 310 wickets in 76 Tests and 324 wickets in 186 limited-overs internationals.
"At this point in time I don't need to make a call on my future," he said. "It depends on how the operation goes — if that takes place — how the fitness is and how much I want it.
"I want to keep playing for Australia. I love being out there in the green and gold and enjoy playing for my country.
"But if I don't play another game for Australia again or play another game of cricket again, I'm very pleased with what I've achieved."
